Kings notes: Abdur-Rahim wins the job
Forward gets the starting nod over Thomas, who should be first off the bench.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 1, 2005
It's Shareef over Kenny, with both wondering what the big fuss was about.
In a Kings training camp and preseason devoid of any drama, the only real curiosity was who would wind up starting at power forward. It'll be Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a veteran with a pedigree that includes 629 career starts over nine NBA seasons. He assumes a spot occupied by Kenny Thomas, who started 20 games last season for the Kings (playoffs included) after arriving via trade.
Kings coach Rick Adelman gave both an equal look through eight preseason games and decided to go with a bigger low-block presence in Abdur-Rahim. Thomas still wants to start but is accepting his role as the likely sixth man. He promises to energize the club with points, rebounds and by running the floor.
"I'm a professional athlete, can't complain," Thomas said. "We're here to do a job. (Adelman) told me I'm going to be a significant part of the team and probably be the first one off the bench and to go from there. It is what it is. I'm going to play like I did last year."
Said Abdur-Rahim: "I've always started my whole career, and I'm comfortable with that role. I play my best basketball starting, but my main goal is for us to win."
Backing in - Thomas said he would like to try his hand on the low block, to see if his quickness can get him around taller foes. He's undersized at 6-foot-7, so muscling those three or four inches taller won't necessarily work.
"My quickness is an advantage, and not just off the block but around the whole court," Thomas said. "I can take some guys off the dribble."
Nifty at 50? - Adelman has won 50 or more games nine times in his NBA coaching career, including each of the past five seasons with the Kings.
Do we hear more? "If we get 50 wins, I'll be a very happy camper," Adelman said. "But I don't think you can even look at it that way. Fifty wins is not easy to do in this league, and this is a different team. I think they can do it.
"But they can also win 42, (and) if we win 42, you're going to be on the outside looking in on the playoffs."
Displaced memories - Adelman said he can understand to a degree what it's like not to have an NBA home, like the New Orleans Hornets, who also will go by Oklahoma City Hornets this season.
"It's a difficult situation," he said. "When I was in Golden State (in the mid 1990s), we had to play all year in San Jose (due to arena renovations). That's totally different than having to move families. At Golden State we didn't have a place to practice, basically, or a place to shoot around, and it wears on you. I can't imagine what it's like for (the New Orleans players). We were still living at home."
Hart's view - Jason Hart started and came off the bench last season in Charlotte. The Kings' new reserve guard said it doesn't matter who starts between Abdur-Rahim and Thomas.
"In San Antonio, Bruce Bowen is going to start and they have Michael Finley, too," Hart said. "Who's better? Kenny here (and Finley there) gives you definite firepower off the bench."
Sampson inactive - Forward Jamal Sampson was placed on the inactive list.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13798513p-14640064c.html
Forward gets the starting nod over Thomas, who should be first off the bench.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 1, 2005
It's Shareef over Kenny, with both wondering what the big fuss was about.
In a Kings training camp and preseason devoid of any drama, the only real curiosity was who would wind up starting at power forward. It'll be Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a veteran with a pedigree that includes 629 career starts over nine NBA seasons. He assumes a spot occupied by Kenny Thomas, who started 20 games last season for the Kings (playoffs included) after arriving via trade.
Kings coach Rick Adelman gave both an equal look through eight preseason games and decided to go with a bigger low-block presence in Abdur-Rahim. Thomas still wants to start but is accepting his role as the likely sixth man. He promises to energize the club with points, rebounds and by running the floor.
"I'm a professional athlete, can't complain," Thomas said. "We're here to do a job. (Adelman) told me I'm going to be a significant part of the team and probably be the first one off the bench and to go from there. It is what it is. I'm going to play like I did last year."
Said Abdur-Rahim: "I've always started my whole career, and I'm comfortable with that role. I play my best basketball starting, but my main goal is for us to win."
Backing in - Thomas said he would like to try his hand on the low block, to see if his quickness can get him around taller foes. He's undersized at 6-foot-7, so muscling those three or four inches taller won't necessarily work.
"My quickness is an advantage, and not just off the block but around the whole court," Thomas said. "I can take some guys off the dribble."
Nifty at 50? - Adelman has won 50 or more games nine times in his NBA coaching career, including each of the past five seasons with the Kings.
Do we hear more? "If we get 50 wins, I'll be a very happy camper," Adelman said. "But I don't think you can even look at it that way. Fifty wins is not easy to do in this league, and this is a different team. I think they can do it.
"But they can also win 42, (and) if we win 42, you're going to be on the outside looking in on the playoffs."
Displaced memories - Adelman said he can understand to a degree what it's like not to have an NBA home, like the New Orleans Hornets, who also will go by Oklahoma City Hornets this season.
"It's a difficult situation," he said. "When I was in Golden State (in the mid 1990s), we had to play all year in San Jose (due to arena renovations). That's totally different than having to move families. At Golden State we didn't have a place to practice, basically, or a place to shoot around, and it wears on you. I can't imagine what it's like for (the New Orleans players). We were still living at home."
Hart's view - Jason Hart started and came off the bench last season in Charlotte. The Kings' new reserve guard said it doesn't matter who starts between Abdur-Rahim and Thomas.
"In San Antonio, Bruce Bowen is going to start and they have Michael Finley, too," Hart said. "Who's better? Kenny here (and Finley there) gives you definite firepower off the bench."
Sampson inactive - Forward Jamal Sampson was placed on the inactive list.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13798513p-14640064c.html
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